Please? 23 Free Things to Do
Raleigh is indeed the "Home of the Free" with more than 20 free attractions symbolizing the essence of City Life, Carolina Style. Also dubbed the "Smithsonian of the South" for the quality of its 20 free attractions, Raleigh's museums and greenway trails are among the region's finest.
1. N.C. Museum of History
Sparkling facility showcases North Carolina's unique and colorful history.
2. N.C. Museum of Art
Features one of the South's best collections.
3. N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
Learn about the state's natural history, from the coastal plains to the mountains in the Southeast's largest natural history museum.
4. N.C. Sports Hall of Fame
Members include Arnold Palmer, Dean Smith and Richard Petty. Housed in the N.C. Museum of History.
5. N.C. State Capitol
This National Historic Landmark was built in the 1830s. Greek Revival architectural style.
6. N.C. Executive Mansion
Called "the most beautiful governor's mansion {interior} in America" by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
7. Parks, Lakes and Greenways
Visitors to Greater Raleigh can enjoy more than 150 beautiful parks and lakes, covering 6,500 acres, and 46 miles of greenways.
8. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens
A colorful variety of trees, shrubs and flowering plants surround a life-size bronze statue of Dr. King.
9. State Farmers Market
Produce doesn't get any fresher -- or more colorful - than at this 75-acre open air market.
10. Artspace
A center for the visual arts featuring 44 working artists in open-to-the-public studios.
11. J.C. Raulston Arboretum at N.C. State University
Features more than 6,000 varieties of plants from 55 countries.
12. Historic Oakwood
Victorian neighborhood listed in the National Tour of Historic Places. Nearby Oakwood Cemetery is the resting place of U.S. Senators, N.C. Governors, Confederate soldiers and generals.
13. Pullen Park
Downtown park featuring a 1911 antique carousel, Andy & Opie TVLand Statue, train ride, kiddie boat ride and pedal boats.
14. State Legislative Building
Home of the N.C. General Assembly. Designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who also designed the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the American Embassy in New Delhi, India.
15. St. Augustine's College Chapel
Built in 1895, the chapel is home to the bishop's chair, a memorial to the Right Reverend Henry Beard Delany.
16. African-American Cultural Complex
An exposition of contributions made by African Americans to the development of North Carolina and the United States.
17. Raleigh City Museum
Interesting exhibits take visitors through the 200-year history of the Capital City.
18. North Carolina Solar Center
Demonstration house and research facility on the N.C. State University campus.
19. Historic Oak View County Park
Historic farmstead that focuses on Wake County's agricultural heritage.
20. Ray Price Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum
Check out the only Harley-Davidson drag racing museum in the world located on the second floor of one of the largest Harley dealerships in the United States. The newly-expanded showroom is the home of the world-famous drag racing champion Ray Price.
21. Harris Visitors Center
Explore Carolina Power & Light's nuclear plant, featuring a computer-operated control room simulator. The facility includes a visitor center, exhibits, the 4,100-acre Harris Lake and the White Oak Nature Trail with picnic facilities.
22. N.C. State Centennial Campus
This advanced technology campus of the future is a mixed-use academic village for research and corporate activity. Visitors may tour state-of-the-art engineering and climate labs, the National Weather Service Forecast Office, and the world's foremost College of Textiles.
23. Research Triangle Park
One of the world's largest planned research parks, spanning 7,000 acres. Based in Durham County, with a portion located in Wake County. Information center in Durham County provides maps and directories. A 20-minute drive from downtown Raleigh. |
